In honor of what would have been R&B soulstress Aaliyah's 30th birthday, we slowed it down at last Wednesday's Good Times and gave the good kids of Eastern Bloc something to make them feel like more than a woman.

There's a new South African in town (right) and I can't remember his name but he's handsome and I spotted out and about with Aly (left) not once, but twice this week.

Sub-arctic temperatures in New York City have brought the heavily-furred hood and scarf look into the bars and clubs. Sidenote: coatcheck only costs $2 and is run by the charmer that is Ned.

If at first you don't succeed at upside down pole gymnastics, dust yourself off and try again.

Early bird Mike Vassi, with adverts for Eastern Bloc's three-year anniversary party. Which reminds me - Good Times' two-year birthday is right around the corner. Ideas for anniversary performances? Chicken costume volunteers?

Some is already rockin' the boat and workin' the middle.

Dude on the right can stroke it for me, stroke it for me anytime he'd like.

Jason (center, with the ginger beard) is already quitting New York for a few months in New Zealand. Say it ain't so Jason! Your drug is a heartbreaker.

Cheers, beers and queers.

Living for Gary's Justify My Love tie-dyedness. Have you noticed that EVERYONE in these pics sort of has on the same dark frames? Spooky.

Brendan (right) was living for the Aaliyah party, while his horizontal friend was mostly concerned with getting on his back and rocking back, back, forth and forth.

Windy night, huh?

Shaquanda and her makeshift wig, begging for a Dutty Wine set so she could bend her back and lift her head up.

Kurt, Sampson and Valdez (from left), all looking Extra Smooth.

The handsomeness that is Peter (left), who had to be reassured that my downstairs Cruising party at this Saturday's Bootleg (with Junior Vasquez upstairs!) at Santos' Party House will indeed be fun for the whole darn fam. Promise.

Gray hoodie gays, which is kind of like a outfit color gang akin to the bloods and the crips. But for gays.

He needs a resolution. And another drink, stat.

Jason (left, with friends), singing along to the baby's WAH in Are You that Somebody.

Rolling Stones tongue-out impression. And speaking of Brits and tonuges, next week is Britpop! night in honor of my friend Chris Miller's homecoming to New York. Come lick him.

Thank the Mexican stars that Gerardo (right) is back in town since he ups the hotness factor by like, 200.

Charles (left) and Michael, who are both truly one in a million. Wait. Maybe that makes them two in a million. But they're both very very special. Love ya babes.

David (right) and friend, demonstrating that Italians clearly do it better.

Shane (left), squeezing a new squeeze perhaps? Or maybe its his squeeze of the evening.

Someone get that lady a drink NOW!

Martin (left), prowling on the man-meat that is Christopher S.

Nick and Nick, probably around the time that Aaliyah turned into Ciara night because I couldn't stop playing Promise, the most amazing track ever recorded at like, 55 bpm.

If your girl only knew...how much I love when Greg G. (right) comes and parties with us.

Sunday, January 25, 2009

Johnny Cash Remixed arrived in the mail yesterday and I actually popped it in and gave it a listen because sometimes these dead-but-not-forgotten compilations can be surprisingly good (see Nina Simone: Remixed and Reimagined). This one is not.

Leave it to executive producers Snoop Dogg (of Doggystyle fame), John Carter Cash (his only son with June) and Mathew Knowles (Beyonce's dad!) to cash in on the man in black's legacy in such a horribly conceived way. I mean, track four says it all: I Walk the Line, QDT remix featuring Snoop Dogg. WHAT. THE. FUCK.

Luckily, most of the tracks are neither good nor bad, much like the DJs who remixed them. The only two standouts are Big River, remixed by Count De Money and Ellen Allien's ex-boyfriend Apparat's take on I Heard That Lonesome Whistle Blow. Counting de money indeed.

Last night, Mike, Mike and I ended up at a lower 5th Avenue house party, where the hostess told us how her parents placated her with Reeses Peanut Butter cups (!) since the tender age of 2 (!!). She had a fridge full of the goodies...

...and a matching throw pillow as well!

Closest thing to dying and flying to peanut butter and chocolate heaven all winter. I hope I don't get salmonella.

Friday, January 23, 2009

Three years ago, a little gay bar opened in the space once occupied by the legendary Wonderbar, another gay bar that had funky DJs (Sharee, Will, etc.) and an intimate backroom. Then Wonderbar closed and Duck Duck opened, soon to be replaced by Satellite Bar.

Thank god for Darren, Gabe and Antoine/Benjamin, who restored 505 e. 6th st. to its original gay glory hole-in-the-wallness and have given a home to Good Times, as well as Gant's Tricky Tuesdays party and that random, short-lived quiz night thing.

Join them this Saturday for their third anniversary, with free booze till 11 and Kelvin as his alter ego drag persona Myrna Boots! I'll be off the clock and knockin' em back.

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Disclaimer: Author Bill Van Meter is a friend of mine. That said, he passed me a galley of his book Bluegrass: A True Story of Murder in Kentucky shortly before I flew off to Croatia last summer which turned out to be the perfect travel companion. Actually, maybe not perfect cuz it's one of those true crime courtroom books that I couldn't put down so I finished it in like, one day, but that's good right. Anyways, you can buy it HERE.

Our dear friend, loyal patron and favorite jew-ban Kevin Fernandez turned 25 last week and celebrated to the sounds of an electroclash throwback night at our Wednesday Good Times party at Eastern Bloc. Sadly, you won't spot Kevin till the very last photo so wait for it!

Scarf season is in full effect! Some scarves are more weather-appropriate than others, if you know what I mean.

BACK ON THE CHAIN GANG.

Spencer (left) and one of those chicks from the Hills. Or is it the City. They all look the same.

Twerk it out, Robert P.! (left)

It Kills! (not just W.I.T. song but also an anti-smoking message, brought to you by Larry Tee.)

Eagerly anticipating next week's birthday celebration, which will be in loving memory of the late, great Aaliyah. Rest in peace, baby gurl.

Mark (left) and James, who brings kabbalah necklace fashion to a whole new level.

I can't decide if I should be looking at them kissing or his New Mexican winter sweater attire. Both are kind of amazing.

Don't ask. And don't tell.

Do I look like a slut? Uh huh. Shut up.

Valdez (right) and friend, still loving the Cut Copy which is still in heavy rotation after all these months. In fact, I'm really getting back into the early stuff a la Saturdays.

In lieu of photographer Kelvin not taking any pictures of birthday boy Kevin (not pictured), I present to you more of Kevin's besties, including Mike (right) and James in the center who is almost walking like an egyptian at this point in the night.